The Lakers secured a four-point victory against the Pelicans to move on to the NBA Playoffs, where they will take on the defending champions, the Nuggets.
Los Angeles has claimed the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive year. The team will once again face Nikola Jokic and Denver, with memories of last year’s sweep by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals still fresh.
Despite holding an 18-point lead in the opening game of the 2024 Play-In Tournament, the Lakers faced a strong comeback led by Zion Williamson for the Pelicans. Williamson recorded a game-high 40 points but left the game in the final minutes with a suspected leg injury.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. D’Angelo Russell contributed 21 points, and Anthony Davis added 20 points and 15 rebounds.
The Lakers are now set to challenge the Nuggets in Denver, aiming to end their seven-game losing streak against them. Meanwhile, the Pelicans will meet the winner of the Warriors-Kings matchup in an elimination game on Friday.
Follow The Sporting News for live updates, highlights, and more from this exciting matchup.
MORE: Can LeBron James slow down Nikola Jokic this time around?
Lakers vs. Pelicans live score
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final | |
| Lakers | 26 | 34 | 23 | 27 | 110 |
| Pelicans | 34 | 16 | 26 | 30 | 106 |
Lakers vs. Pelicans live updates, highlights
(All times Eastern.)
Final: Lakers 110, Pelicans 106
10:08 p.m.: And that’s a wrap.
The Lakers secure the No. 7 seed in the West and will move on to face the Nuggets in the first round. Pelicans will take on the loser of the 9-vs-10 game between the Kings and Warriors on Friday.
For now, concerns about Zion Williamson’s health take center stage.
10:04 p.m.: Anthony Davis makes key free throws after an important offensive rebound to give LA a four-point lead.
Pelicans call a timeout with 14.8 seconds left.
Lakers 106, Pelicans 102
10:01 p.m.: CJ McCollum finally gets a shot to go, cutting the deficit to two points with 38.0 seconds remaining.
New Orleans trails by two with time running out.
Lakers 104, Pelicans 102
9:59 p.m.: D’Angelo nails a corner 3 to put the Lakers up by four with 50.3 seconds left.
Russell has hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the game.
Timeout Pelicans.
Lakers 104, Pelicans 100
9:57 p.m.: A turnover by Jose Alvarado leads to a lob from Austin Reaves to Anthony Davis.
The Lakers take a two-point lead with just over a minute to play.
Lakers 101, Pelicans 99
9:53 p.m.: Zion Williamson exits the game due to injury.
After a drive, Williamson appears to be in pain and heads to the locker room. His availability for the final minutes is uncertain.
9:52 p.m.: Williamson reaches 40 points.
Williamson ties the game with a floater, reaching 40 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in his inaugural playoff performance.
Pelicans 95, Lakers 95
9:50 p.m.: New Orleans ties the game with a layup from Williamson before Anthony Davis puts the Lakers back in the lead.
Jose Alvarado has been instrumental for the Pelicans on both ends of the court.
Timeout called.
Lakers 95, Pelicans 93
9:44 p.m.: The game is getting intense at the Smoothie King Center with the Lakers leading by four points.
Jose Alvarado hits a 3-pointer to reduce the deficit to two points, but Austin Reaves responds quickly with a layup.
This game is going down to the wire.
Lakers 93, Pelicans 89
9:40 p.m.: The Pelicans come alive with a 3-pointer from Trey Murphy III followed by a free throw split by Zion Williamson, narrowing the gap to five points with over six minutes remaining.
Lakers 91, Pelicans 86
9:35 p.m.: The teams are trading baskets, but the Pelicans need to step up their game to catch up with the Lakers.
Midway through the final quarter, LA maintains a nine-point lead. Timeout called.
Lakers 89, Pelicans 80
End of third quarter: Lakers 83, Pelicans 76
9:28 p.m.: New Orleans finishes the third quarter strongly with a 19-8 run to trim the deficit to seven points going into the final quarter.
We are in for an exciting finish.
Zion Williamson leads the Pelicans with 31 points and 10 rebounds, while LeBron James paces the Lakers with 19 points and seven assists. All five Lakers starters are in double digits.
The Pelicans will aim to complete the comeback in the fourth quarter.
9:22 p.m.: Zion Williamson reaches 30 points in the game.
Williamson has been consistent, scoring 10 points in each quarter to reach the 30-point mark. Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal’s challenge to Williamson seems to be on track.
Lakers 83, Pelicans 73
9:12 p.m.: The Lakers are gaining confidence with a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter.
Zion Williamson stands out for the Pelicans with 26 points, but the team needs more to close the gap.
Lakers 75, Pelicans 61
9:01 p.m.: Los Angeles continues to dominate early in the third quarter.
Austin Reaves scores on a transition layup, extending the Lakers’ lead to 13 points. The Pelicans call for a timeout.
New Orleans must turn things around quickly to stay in the game.
Lakers 66, Pelicans 53
Halftime: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50
8:39 p.m.: Zion Williamson beats the halftime buzzer to reduce the deficit to 10 points.
Williamson leads the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists at halftime. LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell each have 15 points for the Lakers, with James also recording six assists.
The Lakers outscored the Pelicans 34-16 in the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead. Both teams have been shooting differently, with the Lakers at 10 of 20 from beyond the arc while the Pelicans are 4 of 16.
8:26 p.m.: The Lakers lead by five points as the first half nears its end.
LeBron James has been instrumental, contributing nine points, five assists, and four rebounds. Zion Williamson leads the Pelicans with 16 points and seven rebounds.
8:22 p.m.: New Orleans and Los Angeles are locked in a close battle.
The Lakers go on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to one point early in the second quarter.
Pelicans 36, Lakers 35
End of first quarter: Pelicans 34, Lakers 26
8:05 p.m.: New Orleans finishes the first quarter strong, holding an eight-point lead.
D’Angelo Russell’s 13 points lead all scorers, while Zion Williamson leads the Pelicans with 10 points on efficient shooting.
The Pelicans have been shooting well at 50.0%, while the Lakers struggle at 34.6%. New Orleans’ 14-5 run to end the quarter was driven by their defense.
8:00 p.m.: A back-and-forth battle between D’Angelo Russell and Jose Alvarado sets the tone early in the game.
The two players exchange words, leading to a review after Alvarado receives a technical foul.
7:55 p.m.: The Pelicans quickly score 5 points as the Lakers struggle to find their shot.
New Orleans takes a four-point lead into a timeout, capitalizing on solid defense.
Pelicans 25, Lakers 21.
7:45 p.m.: The pace of the game is fast-paced from the get-go.
Midway through the first quarter, the teams combine for 41 points with the Lakers holding a one-point lead.
D’Angelo Russell leads in scoring with eight points, while Brandon Ingram leads the Pelicans with five points.
Lakers 21, Pelicans 20
7:37 p.m.: Jonas Valanciunas gets the Pelicans on the board first with free throws.
The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament begins.
Pregame
7:15 p.m.: It’s almost game time, and Anthony Davis and LeBron James look ready.
7:07 p.m.: Starting lineups have been announced.
Pelicans starting lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Jonas Valanciunas.
Lakers starting lineup: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
6:45 p.m.: Anthony Davis and LeBron James are confirmed available for the Lakers, with Cam Reddish ruled out.
The Pelicans are at full strength.
6:07 p.m.: Lakers coach Darvin Ham expects Anthony Davis to play tonight.
5:35 p.m.: Anthony Davis, who experienced back and hip spasms, is warming up for the game.
Davis asserts his readiness to play against his former team.
4:50 p.m.: LeBron James arrives early at the Smoothie King Center to prepare for the game.
Lakers vs. Pelicans betting odds
The Pelicans opened as 1.5-point favorites over the Lakers, according to BetMGM.
| Spread | Total | Moneyline | |
| Lakers | +1.5 (-115) | o224.5 (-110) | +100 |
| Pelicans | -1.5 (-105) | u224.5 (-110) | -120 |
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Lakers vs. Pelicans date start time, TV channel, live stream
- Date: Tuesday, April 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: Sling
In the United States, Lakers vs. Pelicans will air nationally on TNT. Viewers in the U.S. can also stream the game on Sling TV.